Reservist Rotherham publishes his policing policy

Dr Lee Rotherham, the abolitionist candidate, has revealed that he is on the reserve list for the next stage of selection. We know at least one other, Simon Fawthrop, is also on the reserve list but not which one has the first slot. The interview stage was supposed to involve "about ten" candidates but only six have gone through, the chances of the reservists being needed depend on someone pulling out to endorse a frontrunner.

One of the shortlisted candidates has told us that they see their role purely as promoting their policy ideas now that Boris Johnson is in the running, but Rotherham's candidacy has always been about the policies rather than the candidate.

Even at this stage he has today published a detailed paper on policing. A serious policy wonk himself, his five thousand words on the issue based on discussions with serving police officers are not to be sniffed at. Highlights include:

Would the shortlisted candidate who is there purely to promote their policy ideas, please withdraw for someone with something to say? Lee's platform is a truly local one which is reaching out to grassroots professionals and activists. There is much to recommend in Lee's document. I hope that other candidates are not shy to pinch his ideas where possible.

"My own personal opinion, as it happens, is that Brian Haw deserves a peerage. I don’t agree with his viewpoint, but he would prove a better choice of "People’s Peer" that the other so-called ones (notwithstanding the minor fact that the concept was originally a broadsheet’s April Fool joke a decade ago)."